Bells ring in Charles Town in remembrance of the fallen

December 22, 2012

CHARLES TOWN - A somber stillness hung in the air Friday morning, as locations across the country rang bells at 9:30 a.m. to remember and honor the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting which wracked grief through Newtown, Conn., one week ago.

Across the Internet people mourned, while some websites turned all black and more than 29 states declared a moment of silence at Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy's urging.

In Jefferson County, the bells of the courthouse rang out a long, slow and mournful 26 times.

The Jefferson County Commission voted unanimously Thursday morning to observe a moment of silence Friday. It also observed a moment of silence to honor the victims before beginning its meeting that morning.

"It was important for us to do this, because we wanted to recognize the victims and the families of the young people who were shot last Friday. This is out of respect for them," commission president Patricia Noland said. "It's affected the entire country and people are very hurt and concerned. We just wanted to show our respect."

According to the governor's office website, Malloy signed a proclamation Tuesday, which declared Friday as an official day of mourning, and he requested churches and government buildings ring bells 26 times - once for each of the victims at the school. The number excludes the gunman and his mother.

"Mourning this tragedy has extended beyond Newtown, beyond the borders of Connecticut, and has spread across the nation and world," Malloy is quoted as saying on his website.